Patrol to Patrol procedure...?

[kwikpoppa]

Im a 1x player,I use GWX 1.02,SH3 Comm.,SH3 Weather.I play right up to the dock after a patrol then exit patrol(Ive finished one patrol).My question is from that point on what is the best way to proceed from here so that SH3 weather,SH3 commander etc will record and restart next patrol properly.In other words should I exit before upgrading crew etc or exit and go back in at in port between patrols whatever?Tips appreciated.

[Jimbuna]

I tend to exit, that automatically records a save point....I then load up again using SH3 Cmdr and upgrade, award medals/qualifications etc. prior to leaving port on a new patrol :arrgh!:

[Lzs von swe]

I exit the game without doing any changes on the crew or the boat. I then use SH3Cmdr to hand out medals and promotions.
I then load the game from the Cmdr and make any upgrades to the boat before leaving in patrol. If I need new crew members I pick them before leaving in patrol too.

[kwikpoppa]

Oh, so giving upgrades to crew thru SH3 commander is not shortcutting?(I mean it only allows the same upgrades as would be allowed thru the regular upgrade screen?)

[Steppenwolf]

You can do "more" in Sh3 Commander than you can in game, but it does impose limits. For instance, you can promote someone from Bootsman to Stabsbootsman without waiting for SH3 to give you a promotion to hand out, but it will not permit you to promote a PO to an Officer. Likewise, you can award the next highest medal a crewman could receive, without waiting for SH3 to specifically give you that medal to hand out, but it will not let you "skip over" medal prerequisites. The "suggestions" window, usually tells you what is historically correct for a particular crewman.

In short (too late), you can use it to be even more realistic (Only handing out medals, promotions when you feel it is historically accurate, even if SH3 would have given out many more medals/promotions). Or you can use it to bend the rules and over-reward your crew. It's up to you.